Social and Community-Based Housing Units in Western Region Undergoing Renovations and Retrofits

CORNER BROOK, NEWFOUNDLAND and LABRADOR--(Marketwire - Dec. 13, 2010) - The Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador announced today nearly $675,000 in renovation and retrofit funding for 163 units in the province's Western region. The investment, which is part of the federal/provincial investment in affordable housing in Newfoundland and Labrador announced in May 2009, is significantly extending the life of these structures.

The funding was made available through Canada's Economic Action Plan, the federal government's plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs across Canada during the global recession. The Economic Action Plan, announced in 2009, includes $2 billion for the construction of new and the renovation of existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in low-cost loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall investment of $58 million under the amended Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Affordable Housing Program Agreement.

The Government of Canada wants to improve the quality of existing social housing for low-income seniors, single parent families, recent immigrants and Aboriginal households. Canada's Economic Action Plan provides $850 million under the Affordable Housing Initiative to provinces and territories for the renovation and retrofit of existing social housing.

As part of Budget 2010: The Right Investments – For Our Children and Our Future, the provincial government is investing $27 million for housing infrastructure projects, affordable housing and increased maintenance funding over the coming fiscal year. This renovation and retrofit work is in keeping with the goals of the provincial government's Social Housing Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador – Secure Foundations, which outlines a new long-term vision for social housing aimed at improving the housing circumstances of lower-income households and helping to create healthier communities. A copy of the social housing plan is available at www.nlhc.nl.ca/SocialHsingPlan/report.pdf.

The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC); and the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Transportation and Works and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland Labrador Housing Corporation, made the announcement today.

"Our Government remains committed to giving a hand-up to those who need it most here in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister MacKay. "That's why we are proud to have invested in the renovation and retrofit of these 163 units across the western region of Newfoundland, which will go a long way to providing safe, affordable homes for years to come."

"One of the objectives of Secure Foundations is to improve and modernize our existing supply of affordable housing and this work brings us closer to that goal," said Minister Hedderson. "Project by project we are making significant gains in renovating and modernizing our affordable social housing portfolio throughout the province. Over the past year and a half 407 social or community-based housing properties have been renovated, in the Western region."

Canada's Economic Action Plan builds on the Government of Canada's commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion, over five years, to improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless.

More information on this and other measures in Canada's Economic Action Plan, the federal government's plan to stimulate the economy and protect those hit hardest by the global recession, can be found at: www.actionplan.gc.ca.

To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC are working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan.